As Rugby League (NRL) great Petero Civoniceva arrived at RAAF Base Amberley alongside a team of former and current players, there was nervous excitement. A C-27J Spartan from 35SQN waited, ready to transport the rugby league immortals to the remote community of Kowanyama.
35 Squadron was proud to partner with the Arthur Beetson Foundation to transport former and current NRL players including David Stagg, Scott Prince and Ian Lacey, to the Far North Queensland town of Kowanyama to connect greats of the game with local Indigenous communities.
Captaining the C-27J Spartan was 35 Squadron pilot Flying Officer Brett Gould. He said the crew was ecstatic about seeing the remote far North Queensland town of Kowanyama and building the relationship between Air Force, the Arthur Beetson Foundation and the local community.
“The entire crew is looking forward to meeting the players, taking them flying in the C-27J Spartan and exploring Kowanyama,” Flying Officer Gould said.
“It’s incredibly rewarding showing people from remote communities around our military aircraft and taking them up for a flight, especially when they don’t usually get to see what the Air Force has to offer.
“It’s important for our training as well, allowing our crews to become proficient in accessing remote airfields, which is crucial in Humanitarian and Disaster Relief situations, such as bushfires, floods and cyclones.”
Arthur Beetson Foundation Ambassador and NRL great Petero Civoniceva said he was thrilled that the Air Force stepped up to assist.
